The Foiled Plan (War of Sins Book 2)

‘I‘m really sorry, pretty girl. Will you forgive me?’ He nuzzles his face in the crook of my neck as he hugs me tightly to his chest.

‘You’ll only be gone for half a day. I’ll be fine,’ I assure him. I can’t begrudge him that when the entire world is still reeling from Michele, and his last stunt had been to get Marcello Lastra arrested for something that happened over twelve years ago.

‘But I don’t want to leave you alone,’ he pouts.

‘I’ll be fine, Raf. I’m serious. Besides, I have Lovely to keep me company. I won’t even notice you’re gone,’ I wink at him.

‘Is that right?’ he drawls, raising a brow at me. ‘You won’t notice I’m gone?’

Leaning down, his breath is on my cheek as he starts skimming his lips over my skin.

‘Those are dangerous words, Noelle,’ he warns, his tongue sneaking out to lick my earlobe.

‘How…’ I gulp down, a tremor going down my body. ‘How dangerous?’

I don’t know why I’m riling him up now that he’s about to leave, but I can’t help myself.

On one hand, I know he needs to go back and deal with some urgent business. After some thorough investigation, Raf and Carlos suspect they have finally found the mole who’d leaked information to Michele, and Raf had wanted to be present there for the confrontation.

Although he promised he wouldn’t take too long, I’m already feeling the separation.

Now that we’ve spent so much time together it’s hard to imagine being on my own again.

I’ve been on my own for too long before.

There’s something utterly comforting knowing that there’s someone I can lean on. Raf’s support has made me slowly come out of my shell, and for the first time in too long, I feel like myself again. Or, maybe, I’m just finding myself.

‘You’ll need to wait and see,’ he taunts, his proximity caressing my body with the promise of future bliss.

‘Yes,’ I breathe out. ‘I’ll wait for you.’

My eyes widen as I hear an echo in my brain.

I’ll always wait for you.

Shaking myself, I give him a tight smile as I lead him to the car.

‘I’ll make dinner,’ I tell him as I lean against the car door. ‘I’ll prepare something extra special,’ I bat my lashes at him.

He stares at me for a moment before groaning, bringing his hand to his head to massage his temples.

‘How am I supposed to leave now? You’re not playing fair.’

‘Well, you weren’t playing fair either,’ I shoot back, chuckling. ‘Now go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you come back to me.’

‘Yes, captain,’ he imitates a salute, starting the engine of the car. Before I can pull away from the window, his hand is on my nape as he brings me forward for a deep kiss.

‘I’ll be counting down the seconds,’ he whispers against my lips. I stumble back, my fingers going to my lips as he maneuvers the wheel.

Reeling from the kiss, I can only watch as the car makes it out of the gates, an odd feeling settling deep in my stomach at being alone.

Smoothing down my dress, I take a deep breath, resolving to find some things to do on my own until he returns. Besides, I do have some things to prepare for tonight.

A blush envelops my face as my thoughts stray towards that.

Hurrying inside the house, I head straight for the bedroom, getting the boxes I’d stuffed under the bed.

I’d ordered some stuff off the internet and I’d told Raf that they were all for Lovely when he’d questioned me about them.

Lovely finds that exact moment to make his appearance, shakily jumping on the bed and woofing at me.

‘You want to see what I got?’ I ask him, and he extends his tongue out as he gives a yap. ‘I’m curious too, so let’s see,’ I bring my hand over his soft fur, giving it a quick pat.

He releases a soft squeak, running around the bed in excitement.

Focusing on the box, I tear at the plastic surrounding it, opening it up and taking out the contents.

A few pieces of clothing have been neatly folded inside, all thoroughly wrapped so they don’t reveal what lies inside. Tearing through the packaging of the first one, I spread out the material, my eyes widening in the process.

A deep red lacy one piece, it gapes around the stomach, leaving absolutely no room for imagination.

‘That’s a lot less fabric than I imagined,’ I mutter to myself.

I’d wanted to surprise Raf with a set of lingerie, but since I’ve never worn anything like it, I picked the most popular options from the website. Now, looking at what had arrived, I wonder if I should have spent a little more time browsing it.

Unwrapping the other pieces, I start noticing a pattern. Though the lace covers the skin, everything is visible through it. For a moment I’m reluctant to go through with it, since that little fabric makes me a little uncomfortable. But just as the thought arises, I realize that Raf’s seen me wear less. It’s not going to be the end of the world if I wear something this revealing.

My mind made up, I start with the one piece. Taking my dress off, I put it on, surprised at how nice it feels on my skin. The lace is surprisingly soft, molding to my body like a second skin. But as I go to the mirror to look at myself, my face falls.

The stomach gaping reveals most of my scars and places an off-putting emphasis on them. My lips purse as I continue to peruse my body. The shape isn’t bad, and if it weren’t for the empty space around the stomach area, I would love it. As it stands… I don’t think I can wear something that will make me continuously self-conscious of my defects.

I release a deep sigh as I turn to go back to the bedroom, intent on trying the others. Surely something must fit nicely.

My spirits are considerably lower than before. Especially since I’d put a lot of hope into this.

Raf has been an amazing influence as he’s slowly made me come out of my shell. As such, I’d wanted to be more daring and maybe explore a different side of our relationship.

I’ve taken an interest in reading books on relationships and communication, wanting to give my best and not give him any reason to get tired of me.

Never having been in a relationship before, sometimes I don’t know how to react in certain situations. More than anything, I’m always worried about doing or saying the wrong thing.

There are instances when Raf teases me, or jokes around, and I find myself unable to reply or come up with an idea of my own.

Since researching the topic, though, I’ve started to understand our interactions better, and I find myself capable of verbally sparring with him too.

But it’s not enough.

So many articles talk about spicing up a relationship to keep it alive and make sure it doesn’t go stale. I’d read enough to realize I needed to take the initiative more often too—that I shouldn’t let him be the aggressor all the time.

When I’d seen that sexy lingerie was an option, I’d immediately gotten on board, already looking forward to Raf’s reaction.

But now…

A little upset at the first piece, I try the next one on. Made up of a lacy bra and a thong with a garter, this one is much better.

Looking in the mirror, I try to imagine Raf’s expression when he’ll see me, a smile pulling at my lips at the thought. To top it off, I also add a pair of heels.

Though I’m a little wobbly on them, as I pose around in front of the mirror, I start getting increasingly confident. And in an act of uncharacteristic braver, I take out my phone, snapping a photo of myself in the mirror as I strike a sensual pose.

Leaning back against the door frame, I arch my back, one leg straight, the other slightly lifted to emphasize the shape of my body. The angle is perfect so that the lingerie peeks through, but one cannot make out the exact model. On the other hand, the shoes are the main attraction, the heels adding an erotic flair to the pose.

I take a few pictures, switching up the angles a little.

When I’m done, I look through them, selecting two that are more flattering and sending them to him.

My cheeks are burning as I press send.

It doesn’t take a second for Raf’s replies to come through, my phone ringing without stop. I don’t get to respond to one because ten more follow it.

What?

What is that, pretty girl? Tell me it’s not what I think it is?

Fuck… Now when I’m miles away. Fuck.

You’re so fucking hot and I’m on the highway.

Noelle… I’m one second away from turning this car around.

My brows are scrunched up in concentration as I try to type up a reply. Before I know it, though, he’s calling me.

‘Pretty girl, are you trying to torture me?’ He asks, his gruff voice sending a shiver down my back.

‘You shouldn’t text while driving,’ is all I manage to say.

‘I’m not. Hands free,’ he says before clicking on the video option. ‘See? I’m not breaking the law,’ he winks at me.

‘Good. I wouldn’t want you to become a criminal,’ I flutter my lashes at him as I extend my arm so he can see me better.

‘Fuck. Me. What are you wearing, Noelle?’ He curses out loud. ‘You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?’

‘No… Of course not,’ I chuckle. ‘I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what awaits you tonight. So you come home faster.’

‘You succeeded. I’m already close to breaking the speed limit to make sure I get there faster. But until then… Give me a little more.’

‘More?’ I frown.

‘Lower. Show me your tits,’ he barks the order impatiently.

I take my time as I lower the camera inch by inch until he’s getting a thorough view of my bra.

‘Fuck,’ he groans. ‘Where the fuck did you get that? It barely covers your pretty nipples.’

‘I got it for you,’ I whisper. ‘So you could tear it off me,’ I add daringly.

‘You can’t say shit like that to me, Noelle. Not when I’m away from you…’

‘Go do your thing, and know I’ll be waiting for you,’ I tell him. ‘In the meanwhile…’

‘Don’t you dare,’ he bursts out. ‘Don’t you dare touch yourself while I’m not there!’

‘But…’

‘That pussy is mine and mine alone,’ he says in a stern voice, his eyes alternating from the road to the phone. ‘You won’t touch it. You won’t even think about it. You’re going to wait for me to come home and take care of you like the good girl you are,’ he purrs the words, his voice enveloping my skin and making me shiver with anticipation. ‘Focus on that frustration I see in your eyes and hold it in. Because when I get to you…’ he shakes his head. ‘The reward will be much sweeter. That I promise.’

‘Ok,’ I whisper, unable to argue with him.

Already, my thighs are clenched together as I try to ease some of the discomfort, so I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day.

‘Good,’ he grunts.

I soon hang up the phone, knowing that the more we draw this out the more he’ll be unable to follow through with his plans. Still, the fact that he enjoyed it, albeit only half of the lingerie, heightens my anticipation.

Intent on folding the lingerie away before taking Lovely out for a walk, I stand up. The action is too sudden, though, and I feel a whoosh inside my brain before my knees give out.

Helpless, I fall down, my knees hitting the carpet, my entire body thrust forward as my eyes roll in the back of my head.

I’m trapped.

Like having no control of my own body, I can only lay there, slow tremors racking my body and sending me over the edge.

All of the sudden the room shifts with me, the images before my eyes changing.

Blinking, I’m no longer in my bedroom. I’m not in the house anymore.

Thick, stone walls surround me, a path forward lit with candlelight. The tunnel is narrow, as if it had been built an eternity ago. A musty, almost rancid smell permeates the air, and I find it hard to breathe as I move forward.

I’m me, yet I am not. I feel like myself, yet I’m not in control of what’s happening. Like a movie, I can only follow the images. My will has no effect on this reality.

Is it a reality?

I’m a prisoner in my own body as I watch myself act but unable to do anything about it. At the same time, though, the emotions of the moment seep into my very being, infusing me with fear, anger, and suspicion. I know that something isn’t right.

I continue moving, attuned to everything around me.

From the structure of the building and to the windy path that takes me lower, I realize it must be underground.

Had there been such a thing at the hacienda?

I can’t say for sure. The only memories still remaining are of the inside of the hacienda, never outside, or in this case under.

I’m holding a small knife in my hand—my only source of defense. I’d managed to smuggle this one at breakfast one morning, since I’m not allowed to have any sharp object around.

How do I know that?

Increasingly, I can hear sounds. People cheering on, as well as booming voices speaking in unknown languages. My brows furrow in confusion as I can’t understand a thing of what’s being spoken.

It’s not English, and it’s not Spanish either. It’s something else entirely.

The more I walk, the clearer the sounds are. And just as I take a right, rounding a corner, I come across the source.

A gasp escapes me as I jolt back, fitting myself to the wall in hopes no ones sees me.

There are stairs that lead further down and as I slowly turn my head to peek, I realize there are more entrances just like this one, all leading down to the pit. The room is built almost like an inverted pyramid.

Careful so that I’m not seen, I look around, trying to understand what’s happening.

No longer fully made of stone, the room is decorated with panes of black glass. There is a golden throne at the end of the room, elevated from the rest of the features. On the wall behind it, there is a huge jaguar painting on the wall. In fact, the entire chamber has jaguar motifs, all in different stages of attack over its prey.

On the ground, there seems to be a drain system. A huge hole lay in the middle before fracturing into smaller pipes that are strewn all around the room. Around the hole, eight men are in a circle, all chanting the same odd words.

Confusion ripples through me, especially as someone shouts something, making everyone stop. Frowning, I realize I recognize the voice—Sergio.

Immediately, fear suffuses my entire being. I know that if he finds me here, he’ll kill me.

Yet no matter how much I will my feet to move, they won’t.

I stand, almost mesmerized, as I watch the ensuing events.

The eight people dissipate, stepping back to allow for one of them to drag a struggling person draped all in black. Her cries reach my ears, and in no time she’s thrown in the hole. She flounders, limbs flailing as she tries to stabilize herself.

My mouth opens in shock as the black cape is wrenched from her body, leaving her completely naked. Long hair hangs to her back, all beautifully braided despite her haggard appearance.

‘The first to go in this new moon,’ Sergio’s voice booms out as he steps towards the golden throne, retrieving a large blade from a support nearby. Slowly, he approaches the girl, all the while swinging the knife around.

What the…

I watch stupefied as everyone starts their chant again while Sergio places the curved blade around the girl’s throat.

My breath comes in short spurts as I realize what’s about to happen.

And I can’t do a damned thing about it.

The girl is struggling again in his arms, her movements languid, but still with some degree of strength because Sergio hits her with the back of his hand, making her reel back and stop moving.

Positioning the blade at her throat again, she seems resigned to her fate.

Her chin is up high, her eyes wide open.

And right in that moment, she looks at me.

I go still.

Shaking my head, I take a step back, knowing I have to get out of here before I’m seen. Before I end up like that girl.

The chanting is getting louder, and as I back away, I will my feet to work as I run at full speed.

‘What…’ the words tumble out of my mouth as I make contact with a hard surface.

Stumbling back, I fall to my ass, my eyes wild with fear as I look upon one of those men—one wearing a similar mask.

‘What do we have here?’ he drawls, and I immediately recognize the voice—Fernando, Sergio’s most trusted man.